WE'RE SO LUCKY

Alex Ferguson took Eric Cantona to Old Trafford on little more than a whim. The Manchester United boss was unsure about how or where to employ the Frenchman - and yet he had a sixth sense something might happen.

And thus Fergie's Old Trafford empire was born.

The Red Devils won 17 of their final 25 games with Cantona missing two, one an away defeat at Oldham.

United's transformation is what we call serendipity - making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident. A decade later and Ferguson has once more stumbled across a winning combination purely by chance.

The Ferguson fan club will, no doubt, pay lip-service to his genius. Others, though, will testify to the madness that grips His Fergieship at times.

But he is certainly not both genius AND madman. Look at the current United line-up and it does not make sense. Yet it has all fallen wonderfully into shape - though I remain highly sceptical about Juan "Homer" Veron.

You have a centre-half playing left-back, a left-back playing centre-half, a right-back playing central midfield, a striker playing right midfield and a midfielder - Paul Scholes - playing wherever he wants.

And by the time United had completed their highly impressive victory over Deportivo on Wednesday, Ryan Giggs was at left-back.

What next - Ruud Van Nistelrooy at sweeper and Laurent Blanc on the wing?

But one player is curiously missing from the accolades.

Step forward Fabien Barthez - a man who, by all accounts, should have been back down the Channel Tunnel after some doubtful moments at Old Trafford.

Yes, he makes mistakes - he always has - but the Frenchman continues to produce the saves that justify Ferguson's faith in him.

The arrival of West Ham tomorrow is also supposed to see David Beckham restored to the starting line-up.

Yet how on earth can Ole Gunnar Solskjaer be dropped?

The Norwegian has played out of his skin on the right, impressing everyone not only with the accuracy of his crossing but the way he has been getting stuck in.

Some recent tackles have shown a tendency to mimic the absent Roy Keane - and may shed fresh light on his nickname "the baby-faced assassin".

Fergie's trigger-finger will be twitching as he contemplates changes - but the old gunslinger must be careful not to blast off his own foot.

Do you fancy United to carry on their winning run? If you do why not put some money on it. You know the drill by now. Follow the link for a chance to win some cash.

Manchester United v West Ham

14th of December 2002 12:15pm

Manchester United 2/7
Draw 7/2
West Ham 8/1